Author: Zhanna Nahapetian

Deputy from Bright Armenia faction Ani Samsonyan referred to the issue on postponing the constitutional referendum.

“I am not surprised that the Yerevan mayor does not exist at this responsible moment and as head of the civil defense he is not interested what happens in the capital (as in general he is irresponsible). But I am surprised when the opposition offers to postpone the referendum and in response Armenia’s prime minister tells people not to be afraid and does not postpone the referendum and instead self-isolates in Sevan,” she wrote on Facebook.

Inspections led by the Chief of the Armed Forces Service Department Col. A Petrosyan and the officers were conducted in number of military units of Lori, Armavir, and Yerevan garrisons. As the press department at the defense ministry reported, the organization of internal orders of the military units, the permit regime, the military service of the troops as well as the military equipment maintenance were checked.

As the source added, the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the units were inspected as part of monitoring the course of the implementation of the instructions aimed at preventing the new coronavirus spread.
 

The miniature of the Tatev Monastery Complex and the replica of a 15-16th century cross-stone kept in the museum area of the monastery complex were exhibited for the first time at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. on March 7. 

The exhibits were donated to the museum by Initiatives for Development of Armenia (IDeA) Foundation and Aurora Humanitarian Initiative ahead of the 10th anniversary of construction of Wings of Tatev aerial tramway and launch of Tatev Revival Project, IDeA Foundation reported. 

Within Tatev Revival Project, Tatev Monastery Complex, one of the religious, cultural and enlightenment centres of Armenia in the 9th century is being reconstructed. Cultural heritage is one of the key directions of IDeA Foundation, which is evidenced by Foundation’s over 150 projects aimed at preservation and restoration of cultural heritage in Armenia and the Armenian World.

The donated works will become part of the permanent exhibition representing Tatev Monastery Complex at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. They will also be showcased at a major exhibition “Breath of God”: Armenia and the Bible, which will be held from September 2021 through March 2022. The exhibition will be dedicated to Armenia as the first country to have adopted Christianity as an official religion.

“Tatev Monastery will have a central role in the “Breath of God”: Armenia and the Bible exhibition. We hope that guests are inspired to visit the historic and beautiful site of Tatev and the surrounding area. This exhibition will be the first fully Bible-focused major exhibition on Armenia, which will have a special emphasis on Armenian-Americans and the American Diaspora in relation to the Bible. It will also be the most technologically advanced major exhibition on Armenia to date, and it will include many artifacts never before shown outside of their country of holding,” says Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, Chief Curatorial Officer at Museum of the Bible.

The visitors will learn about the Armenian Bible, history of the Armenian Church, rituals and liturgy, Armenian language and alphabet, Armenian church art and cultural heritage, the Armenian Genocide, history of revival of Armenian national identity intertwined with the Bible.

The exhibition will also focus on one of the biblical topics – “Following the Flood: The Second Chance of the Humanity” and the story of Noah’s Arch on the biblical Mount Ararat. The latter is also the key idea underlying #AraratChallengе global movement of Aurora Humanitarian Initiative as a global symbol of salvation and revival. Like Armenian orphan children who survived the Armenian Genocide got the chance to start a new life, #AraratChallenge initiative calls on joining efforts to give a second chance to those who most need it now. The exhibition to be held in Washington will present to Armenians, the world and whole humanity the symbol of the second chance. 

From February 24 to March 4, 2020, the Public Television of Armenia, operating at the expense of taxpayers allocated 160 minutes 16 seconds of its air to the topic of the constitutional referendum, 19 minutes 45 seconds of which were allocated to the “No” campaign, 38 minutes 41 seconds to the “Yes” campaign and 101 minutes 50 seconds were neutral remarks. The Public TV also aired “Yes” and “No” campaign video clips of up to 1-minute duration each.

The Media Advocate initiative reports that the Public TV of Armenia conducted a hidden propaganda of the “Yes” headquarters. A publicly-funded television station has presented a report on the real authors of the “Yes” logo. The report was aired several times, for two consecutive days; on February 27 and 28. It is worth mentioning that no such report was aired for the “No” side of the campaign.

The initiative also said that Hayk Hovhannisyan, a member of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), was the guest of the Public TV. In an interview, referring to the Constitutional Court, Hovhannisyan stated that it had made a wrong decision regarding the SJC. That is, no contrary opinion was presented. This is also a violation of professional ethics, and the fact of presenting such a unilateral interview in the period preceding the referendum, may also be viewed as “Yes” propaganda.

Media Advocate urges Public Television, operating at the expense of taxpayers, to maintain impartiality and to cover the campaign of referendum on amendments to the Armenian Constitution scheduled for April 5, in keeping with the principles of equality and professional ethics.